Invalid-hammock



(No Model.) 2 SheeqsfSheet 1 A. LESLIE.

INVALID HAMMOK.

Patented Oct. 17, 1882i.`

NA PEIEHS, Fhomulhognpper. wa/mngm. D. c.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2';

(No Model.)

A.. LESLIE*l INVALID HAMMOGK.

Patented Oct. 17, 1882'.

(lll@lll/llllll/llllllllIl/{IIIIIHMM/ 1. S. s .L W M W Attorney N.PETERS, mmumugnpnu. v'lan'mgm-L D. c.

IINTTnD STATES EATENT rricn.

ANDREW- LESLIE, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

INVALID-HANINIOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 266,167, dated October1'7, 1882.

" Application filcdSeptcmber 1882. (No model.) l I Louis, in the Stateof Missouri, have invented' a ceitain new and useful Invalicl-Ilarnmock,of which the following is a speciticaiion.

'Ihc apparatus in which my invention is coniprised is designed moreparticularly with aview to being used as an attachment to or inconnection with a bedstead of any ordinary or suitable construction,although it may of course, it' so desired, be used alone. The foot ot'the hammock is adapted to be connected to the foot ofthe bed, and ispreferably connected to the foot-board of the bed by hook or equivaientfastenings, which will permit the hammock to be readily detached andremoved. The other end of the hammock, which extends np toward the headof the bedstead, is provided with or connected to means whereby it canbe raised or lowered, as desired, these means being preferably attachedto and carried by the bedstead, so that the latter can be moved freelyabout the room, carrying' with it the hammock and its attachments. rIlhehammock itself is preferably constructed or formed with a hole oropening' at the point where the buttocks of the occupant of the hammockwould usually come, the object heilig to permit the occupant toconveniently use acommode or bed-pan without quitting the hammock, andwith the hammock thus formed I combine a flap which can be drawn overthe hole or opening, so as to close and protect it, and is held in thatposition by hook and eye or other suitable fastening devices which willpermit the flap to be detached at one end, so as to uncover thehammock-opening whenever desired.

The nature of. my improvements can best be explained and understood byreference to the accompanying drawings, wherein I have represented theform and arrangement of apparatus which I believe to be best adapted tocarry my invention into effect.

In the drawings, Figures 1,2, and 3 are perspective views ot' a bedsteadwith the invalidhammock attachment, representing some of the variouspositions in which the hammock can be placed. Fig. 4 is a modification,to be hereinafter referred to. Fig. 5 is a sectional side elevation, onenlarged scale, ot' a bcdstead with a hammock in place thereon. Fig. 6isa perspective view of a portion of the body of the hammock. Fig. 7 isa sectional view, representing the means for fastening in place thecovering-flap hereinbefore referred to. Fig. 8 is a side elevation, andFig'l9 is an end elevation, of a folding knee-rest, adapted to be usedin combination with the hammock. Fig. l() is an elevation of the liftingand lowering device. Fig. 11 is a sectional view, representing, onenlarged scale, the manner of securing the lower end otl the hammock tothe foot-board of the bedstead.

The'apparatus is simple, and consists of. few parts.

The hammock proper (shown at A) consists of a strip ot' canvas-duck otlsuitable length and width, which, when in use, is to be fastened to thelower edge ot' the foot-board B of the bedstead by any convenient means,consisting in the present instance of a round stick, a, contained in aloop or fold at the lower end of the canvas, and two hooks, b, screwedinto the lower edge ofthe foot-board, in which hooks thelaterally-projecting ends ofthe stick are caught. The opposite end ofthe hammock is attached to a cord, c, which runs over one or morepulleys, d., set on top of a post, O, fastened to the back of theheadboard of the bedstead, and thence extends down and is securelyfastened to the drume of the hoisting device. This device consists of abed-plate,f, provided with suitable bearings for the drum, and also forthe Worm g, by which the latter is rotated. On the axle ofthe drum, atone side, is fixed a worm-wheel, h, engaging the worm g, as indicated inFig. 5. A detachable Winch or handle, t', is provided for rotating thewormshaft. This device is so powerful that a child can readily raise andlower the hammock when it contains an adult, and its parts are soarranged that the drum cannot rotate unless power be applied to itthrough the medium ot' the worm g.

I here remarkthat the pulley or pulleys d may, if desired, be fastenedinto the ceiling of the room Where the apparatus is used, as indicatedby dotted lines in Fig. 2, and in this event the hoisting device canalso he fastened IOO to the Hoor or other convenient part of theioom,instead of to the bedstead. I have, however, found it preferable toplace them on the bedstead, as represented, both because they are moresecure, and also because when they are thus arranged the bedstead can bemoved freely about the room.

l can, it' it be deemed desirable, dispense altogether with the headcord or cozds by using, as indicated in Fig. 4, alonger strip ot'canvas, which should pass over a roller and then down to a drum, withproper gearing for winding the canvas upon the drum. The cordarrangement already described, however, is more simple and economical,and is equally safe.

For use iu connection with the hammock I provide a folding knee-rest,(shown in Figs. S and 9,) consisting ot' end castings,j 7., hingedtogether and provided u ith t'eetfor attachment of the longitudinalwooden foot-bars t. One casting,j, of the pair ofcastings at each endhas a loop,j, these loops forming sockets for securing in place thewooden top bar, m, ot' the device.

To enable the occupant to conveniently7 use a commode or bed-pan withoutquitting the hammock, l form in the latter an opening or hole, a, at thepoint where the buttocks usuually come, and l combine with the hammock acovering flap, 0, placed on the under side ot' the hammock, with one ofits edges secured thereto, either permanentlyv or otherwise, andprovided at the opposite edge with hooks p, which can be made to engageeyes 1J in the hammock whenever it is desired to draw forward the Hapand close the hole in the hammock.

The foregoing comprises a description of the several parts of myimproved apparatus. The manner in which the same can be practically usedwill be readily understood by reference to Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

In Fig. l the patientisrepresented asin bed on the hammock in the usualrecumbent position. The lowercnd of thehammock ispassed down between thelower end of the mattress and the foot-board, and the stick is droppedinto the hooks, thus securing the lower end of the hammock. Thehoisting-cord from the upper end ot' the hammock runs to the drum of thehoisting device.

Fig. 2 represents the hammock elevated, with the knee-rest in place andin use. This brings the patient to a sitting posture, forrest in thatposition, or for what is practically of more importance, the use of acommode or bedpan. In order to change from the position shown in Fig. lto that shown in Fig. 2, the folded knee-rest, while the patient isstill reclining, is passed under the hammock at the pointwhere the kneescome, and is then opened and placed as shown in the drawings. r)Shehammock and patientA are then by means of the hoisting apparatuselevated to the position shown in the drawings, Fig. 2, the coveringflapo is nnhooked and drawn aside, the coinmode or bed-pan is placed on thebed under i the patient, and the hammock is then lowered until thepatient is conveniently placed thereon. This arrangement permits thecommode to be easily placed and removed. NVhen the patient desires theuse of the hammock merely for the comfort of the sitting posture thecovering-flap need not be removed.

Fig. 3 represents the hammock and patient in position for changingbedding. For this position the lower end of the hammock should be drawnout from between the lower end ot' the mattress and foot-board, andshould be thrown entirely outside of the foot-board and fastened to thehooks, which latter for this purpose should be turned about ahalf-circle from the position shown in Figs. l and 2. The hammock isthen by the hoisting device elevated to the position shown in thefigure, thus raising the hammock and patient from contact with thebedding, which can then be changed at pleasure.

The apparatus can be used etfcctively and to great advantage in asick-rooln. It ad mits of the cleanly and easy use of a commode orbed-pan withoutremoving the patientfrom the bed. It facilitates`changing the patient from a recuinbent to a sitting position withoutpain or discomfort, and also enables a change of bedding to be madewhenever desired without inconveniencing the patient. These are but afew of the many uses to which the apparatus may be put, which willsuggest themselves to the sltillt'nl nurse. Moreover, the apparatusitself is exceedingly simple, and can be applied to any bed by a personof averageintelligence.

lVhat .l claim as new and ot' my invention 1. The combination, with abcdstead ofordinary or suitable construction, ot a hammock placed overthe bed and attached at its lower end to the foot ofthe bedstead and ahoisting device connected with the other end of the hammock and adaptedto raise or lower and sustain that end of the hammock, substantially asand for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

2. The combination ofthe bed, the hammock secured at its lower end tothe foot ofthe bed, and a hoisting device attached to and carried by thebed and connected by a cord or equivalent instrumentality to the head ofthe hammock, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore setforth.

3. The folding knee-rest, constructed and adapted for use 1n connectionwith the bed and hammock, substantially as hereinbefore setforth.

4. The hammock formed with a hole or opening, as described, incombination with the coveringila-p and flap-fastening devices on theunder side of the hammock, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

In testimony whereof' I have hereunto set my hand this 29th day ofAugust, 1882.

Witnesses: ANDREW LESLIE.

CLARENCE PoMERoY, Giras. WooDRoFFE.

IOO

